The 12 certificate

The criteria on how the director states the age certificate, relevant to horror film:

Horror- Moderate physical and psychological threat may be permitted, provided disturbing sequences are not frequent or sustained.

Imitable behaviour- Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied, or appear pain or harm free. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised. Language- Moderate language is allowed. The use of strong language (for example, ‘fuck’) must be infrequent.

Nudity- Nudity is allowed, but in a sexual context must be brief and discreet.

Theme- Mature themes are acceptable, but their treatment must be suitable for young teenagers.

Violence- Moderate violence is allowed but should not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood, but occasional gory moments may be permitted if justified by the context.

Sexual violence may only be implied or briefly and discreetly indicated, and must have a strong contextual justification.

The 15 Certificate The criteria on how the director states the age certificate, relevant to horror films:Discrimination- overall must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour.Horror- Strong threat and menace are permitted unless brutal or sexualised.Imitable behaviour- Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which couldbe copied. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised.Language- There may be frequent use of strong language (for example, ‘fuck’). The strongest terms (for example, ‘cunt’) may beacceptable if justified by the context. Aggressive or repeated use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable.Nudity- Nudity may be allowed in a sexual context but without strong detail. There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual oreducational context.Theme- No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is appropriate for 15 year olds.Violence- Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely tobe acceptable. Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references tosexual violence but any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification

The 18 certificateThe 18 certificate was created in 1982 as the successor of the previous X certificate, which in turn was the successor of the H certificate (with H standing for "horror"). See History of British Film Certificates for more details. Typical reasons for restricting films to the 18 certificate category have included scenes of hard drug use, supernatural horror, explicit sex, sadistic violence and sexual violence — the last two of which have in the past led to a certificate not being issued at all, effectively banning the film in the UK. It was only recently that the censors passed films with explicit ('hardcore') sexual acts despite the 18 certificate existing for many years.

The criteria on how the director states the age certificate, relevant to horror films:Material which may encourage illegal activity material which is obscene or otherwise illegal material createdby means of the commission of a criminal offence portrayals of children in a sexualised or abusive contextsexual violence or sexualised violence which endorses or eroticises the behaviour of brutal violence or torturewhich invites the viewer to identify with the perpetrator in a way which raises a risk of harm explicit images ofreal injury, violence or death presented in a scandalous or shocking manner which risks harm by encouragingcold-hearted or brutal attitudes sex works which contain material listed as unacceptable at ‘R18’. When theissue relates to the circumstances of filming (for example, in relation to animal cruelty or public indecency) thesubmitting company will normally be given an opportunity to present evidence before a final decision isreached.